Michael Carrick has been constantly underestimated by his ‘jealous’ ex-Manchester United teammates, but he could soon have the last laugh.
This has been claimed on talkSPORT’s Inside Devils amid the rise in Carrick’s stock after guiding the Red Devils to Champions League qualification as interim boss.
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talkSPORT understands Carrick is set to open talks over taking charge at Old Trafford on a permanent basis.
While formal discussions are yet to begin, with United also thought to be considering an approach for Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, the Englishman has put himself in pole position to take the reigns.
Since taking charge on a temporary basis in January, Carrick has overseen a remarkable turnaround at Man United.
Having sealed Champions League qualification with a 3-2 win over Liverpool, the Red Devils are all but confirmed to finish third.
In his 15 games in the dugout, Carrick has claimed ten wins and three draws, losing just twice to claim an impressive 33 points.
Despite his hugely positive influence, the ex-United star has faced constant doubts over his long-term suitability for the role, many of which have come from his high-profile former teammates.
Old Trafford icons Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and Gary Neville have all warned against appointing Carrick permanently in the summer.
This has continued throughout his tenure, with Neville urging the 44-year-old to step aside after delivering Champions League football.
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: “It would be so classy and Michael-like if he said, ‘Guys, I’ve done what I came in to do, I’ve done this job, I’ve got you into the Champions League, I’ve re-stabilised the club, settled the place down. But now go and put someone [else] in.’
‘Trolling him’
talkSPORT’s Inside Devils panel have been left unimpressed by the continued question marks raised over Carrick by his old teammates, with superfan Flex accusing them of belittling him.
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He said: “The way some of the Class of 92 speak about him – I saw Gary Neville say something a couple of weeks back on the Overlap which I thought was really interesting.”
On Neville’s comments, Flex said: “I feel like they’re ‘little bro-ing’ him a little bit, trolling him.
“I feel like they’re being like ‘he was Michael in the dressing room – he’s never really that loud. He isn’t really cut out for it’ which is disingenuous – he won six Premier Leagues, by the way.
“But do you feel like there’s this sort of connotation towards him that exists, like he’s just not that guy?”
Jamie Jackson, Manchester football correspondent for the Guardian, went one further than Flex, as he suggested United’s legends, who are now leading pundits, are jealous of Carrick.
The journalist pointed out that they were more supportive of ex-teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his stint as manager.
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Jackson said: “Part of me thinks they wouldn’t be so obviously prejudiced or unfair, but that comment I’ve forgotten about, but I heard it at the time. I was like, ‘Well, what are they saying?’
“It seems like his biggest fault is he did not score the winner in the 1999 Champions League final like Ole, who they all love that he did that for them.
“I am surprised.”
United greats ‘don’t like’ seeing Carrick succeed
Among Carrick’s doubters have been legendary former captain Roy Keane, who had a public spat with Carrick’s wife, which stems back to 2014, which some have highlighted as a reason why he may not want him in charge.
However, Jackson instead argued that the lack of support for Carrick’s appointment stems from his old mates enduring a more difficult time in their respective managerial careers.
He continued: “It’s interesting because Michael Carrick’s got to be the least argumentative, divisive character of that great United era.
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“He was a great player for you and he did win all that. The 2008 season when they won the Champions League – he started that.
“So it is very, very weird. You have to come to the conclusion, I don’t know whether you three would agree, it’s almost a little bit jealous that he’s doing it.
“Gary Neville had his disaster at Valencia, Roy Keane did okay-ish taking Sunderland up – that’s very good, don’t get me wrong.”
Jackson explained: “At the top level [Carrick has outperformed them] and it’s almost like they don’t like the fact.”
“Whereas with Ole they kind of did the same thing because he was he did score that goal [in the Champions League final] and maybe he’s kind of more of a bubbly [character] and maybe he deferred more to them at the time.
“So because of that, from their point of view, Ole knows his place. Whereas Michael being quite self-assured, quite self-possessed, quite quiet. Maybe there’s a bit of that going on.”
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